Here is my Xomba home page. It summarizes most of my articles and I will linking to it in my signature in my articles.

I am hoping that you will check out some of my articles and try some of my recipes.

Most Popular
Here is a selection of my favorite articles and highest rated ones:

My Brothers Fat Cat B'stard - what happens when you think you own a cat

My Grandfather's story - Always be kind to animals

What are you going to be thinking about on your death bed?

You called your dog WHAT? - problems that can arise when naming your pet!

In my memories - about remembering to enjoy life just as you did as a child

Me rambling about whether I am middle aged, or maybe I am an 'old fart' already - don't laugh, it creeps up on us all!

Health Issues and Self Help

Taking control of our own health beyond popping the tablets.

Lactose Intolerance
Alzheimer’s
Boosting your Immune System
Acid Reflux,
Varicose Veins
Common Cold Home Remedies
Hangover Cures
Food and Depression
Insomnia
Reducing Cholesterol
What are those white marks on my nails?!
Can an Egg Breakfast make you lose weight?

Vitamins and Nutrients

We all hear about vitamin deficiencies, its good to know what they are and how to avoid them.

Vitamin A
Vitamin B1
Vitamin B2
Vitamin B6
Bitamin B12
Vitamin C

Studies of the health benefits of certain foods, many include recipes

I love studies of specific foods. It surprises me how they say people who eat tomatoes live on average x years longer, I can’t believe if I ate all the recommended foods that I would live until I am 327 years old, but I do think there is a lot to be said about the statement “you are what you eat”, and when you find a great food or recipe that happens to be healthy, then its time to make it a dinner time regular.

Garlic
An Apple a day
Grapefruit
Tomatoes
Artichokes
Bananas
Chilies,
Marmite
Nuts
Blueberries
Eggs
Spinanch
Maitake Mushrooms
Cauliflower
Tofu
Superfood Breakfast
Yoghurt

About diets

There are some weird and wacky diets out there. I believe a healthy diet is a lifestyle. It’s not reasonable to attempt to only eat very healthy foods but it is easy to incorporate them into a lifestyle and it can be a lot of fun trying new things.

Flat Belly diet
An achievable diet
Sneaking healthy food into your children’s lunchbox
Japanese banana diet
All about the French Paradox
Eat your way to low cholesterol
Wacky Diets that don’t work

Health and Alcohol

I find the subject of health and alcohol very intriguing. So many studies have been done in an effort to prove that alcohol has some health benefits, I can’t help but wonder about the true motivation sometimes!

Is beer good for me?
Possible Hangover Cures?
Resveratrol and Red Wine
My Investigation into the slogan ‘Guinness is good for you’
Drunk Drivers

Spam

Yes, I find spam irritating, I try not to let it get to me, but it does.

Email Spam
Spam Articles

Environmental

I am trying to be more considerate of the environment. I feel I own my part in this. I want to reduce my foot print on this earth. We have been trying harder these last few years to be more environmentally aware and are making changes in our lives.

Reducing Landfill
Overly Packaged Goods
Buying Local Free Range and Organic Produce
Ideas on becoming more green
Cow Emissions versus Car emissions
Free Range Eggs
Turn off your lights for Earth Hour

Finances:

It’s been gloom and doom in recent times. We no longer get pay rises at work and the cost of living is going up. In times like these it’s easy to get into debt. Here are a few articles on reducing debt, and easy ways to tighten the belt.

5 tips to reducing debt
Reducing Power Bills using a power strip
Mortgate rates and a debt dependant economy
More ways to reduce that Electricity Bill instantly
Donate a dead car for a tax rebate
Booking cheap vacations on line
Getting out of debt as quickly as possible
Saving on power consumption – the laundry bill

Employment:

With so many people chasing the same job, here are some tips that may help you win that position.

Tips for Preparing for an Interview
Value and content of a resume cover letter
Resume tips

Italian Recipes:

Here are my favorite Italian Pasta recipes. A number of these I first tried in Italy then on returning I decided to re-create them. There is nothing like travelling to learn about food and increase the variety of items that land on the dinner table.
Penne Aribiatta
Soy Vegetarian Lasagne
Basic Tomato Sauce
Penne al Samone
Pasta Bake Topping
Porcini Risotto
Vegetaria Spaghetti Bolognaise
Tuna Pasta Salad
Make your Own Pasta
Spaghetti in spicy garlic oil
Pesto
Spaghetti in Scotch Bonnet, Garlic, Basil and Parmesan Sauce
Spaghetti Parmesan and Veggies

The ultimate Garlic Bread Recipe to go with any of the above

Indian:

When you just need to have something spicy, there is nothing like an Indian Meal. Here are some of my favorite vegetarian recipes.

Chana Masala
Dal
Curry Pancakes
Indian Curry Recipe
Poppadoms
Coriander and Garlic Nan Bread
Aloo Matar Gobi

How to make PERFECT Basmati Rice

International Spice Mixes:

There is something satisfying about making your own spice mixes, here are a few basic recipes, once you have tried them out, then start experimenting with them by tailoring them with different quantities and spices.

Madras Spice Mix
Vindaloo Spice Mix
Cajun Spice Rub

Thai:

I love Thai food and plan to write some more recipes soon. I am still experimenting with some new ones and will be writing some new articles once I am happy with them.

Thai Potato Fritters
Thai Zingy Dip
Thai Red Curry

Spanish:

The Spanish Omelet (Tortilla Espanola), makes a great brunch when served with some crusty bread.
Tortilla Espanola
Sangria

Soup

I am a soup addict, particularly in the winter. I make plenty and pack what is left over for my work lunch the next day.

All these soups are vegetarian, though there is nothing stopping you from adding meat or meat stock to them.

Spicy Parsnip and Carrot Soup
French Onion Soup – vegetarian version
Sweet Potato Soup
Asparagu Soup
Pea Soup
Carrot and Coriander soup
Making Your Own Vegetable Stock
Roasted Garlic and Tomato Ravioli Soup
Mug of hot Veggie Soup
Lentil Soup
Creamy Mushroom Soup
Butternut Squash Soup

Veggies:

There are veggie recipes amongst all the categories, I had trouble giving these a home.

Methods for Cooking Great Carrots
Heirloom veggies

Dips:

Dips a great for entertaining. They are also great for a snack night when all you want to do is munch in front of the TV.

Pico de Gallo
Guacamole
Welsh Rabit Style Cheese Dip
Thai Zingy Dip – great for spring rolls
Making your own Mayo
Asian Dipping Sauces
Tabouli /Tabbouleh
Tzatziki,
Making your own tortilla chips

For the Holidays or Sunday Dinners: :

The following recipes are all vegetarian, but still make great side dishes and ideas for traditional Sunday dinners made with meat.

Best Roasted Parsnips
Traditional Stuffing
Garlic Mash Potatoes
Heart Healthy Roast Potatoes
Roasted Vegetables with Garlic and Rosemary
You’re your own Cranberry Sauce
Broccoli / Cauliflower Cheese
Making Yorkshire Puddings
Vegetarian Gravy
Make your own Pancakes on Shrove Tuesday
Sheppard’s, Cottage Pie

Salads and Dressings:

Here are my favorite salads. I like experimenting with salad dressings. Home made salad dressing is so simple to make and so superior to shop bought products.

Potato Salad
Mayo
Tuna Pasta Salad
Greek Lemon Salad Dressing
Roast Tomato and Spinach Salad and crunchy croutons
Summary of Simple Salad Dressings
Thousand Island Dressing and Shrimp Salad Starter Recipe
Macaroni and mixed bean salad
Bulgur Wheat Salad
Chive Salad Dressing
Salad Starter in an Edible Parmesan Bowl

Healthy Grains:

More recently I have been exploring alternatives to rice. I was really surprised how good Quinoa tastes and by the nutritional benefits of these alternatives. The Quinoa and Mushroom recipe has been a great hit at our house and has become one of our regular side dishes.

Bulgur Wheat
Quinoa
Quinoa recipe with toasted Mushrooms

Fish Recipes:

There is nothing to stop you using alternative fish for these recipes.

Asian Sesame Salmon with Orange
Baked Salmon with sweet Chili and Garlic crust
Tandouri Trout / Salmon
Spicy Garlic Shrimp Kebabs,
Tilapia Cooked in a Tin Foil bag in an Asian Marinade
Trout or Salmon with a Zingy Lemon Cream Sauce
Smoked Salmon Pasta
Steak and Tuna Marinade
Salmon in a Lobster Mushroom Sauce
Salmon in Tarragon Cream sauce
Great British favorite, Fish, Mash and Parsley Sauce
Baked Fish in a Lemon Rosemary and peppercorn marinade
Swordfish steaks cooked in garlic and parsley butter
Baked Trout in a Rich Chive Sauce
Zesty Monkfish Kebabs
Smoked Salmon Canapés
Baked Salmon with Leeks, Garlic and Dill
Asian Inspired Baked Salmon is Sesame Orange Marinade

Baking:

My cheese scone recipe is a must!

The Definitive Cheese Scone Recipe
Basic Cake Recipe.

Mushrooms:

With wild mushrooms becoming more popular in supermarkets this opens a whole new world of gourmet cooking. Wild mushrooms all have their own unique flavor and characteristics and they make great enhancements to many dishes as they are so versatile.

Check out the article on the Pungent Porcini for instructions and images for using dried mushrooms!

Porcini Risotto
Purchasing and cooking with dried mushrooms
Maitake Raviolis
A Fungal Delicacy The Pungent Porcini

Kebabs

With the summer all ahead of us, its time to bring out the BBQ and maybe expand the menu with some new types of kebabs...

Tandouri Salmon Kebabs
Spicy Garlic Shrimp Kebabs
Monkfish Kebabs
Tofu Kebabs

Miscellaneous Tips and Recipes

Following are articles about specific foods, they include nutrition information, information about varieties, cooking methods and many include recipes.

Tofu
Pastry
Cabbage
Veggie Stock
British Cheeses
Chilies
Growing and Freezing Basil
Chocolate Strawberries
Thali
Stuffed French Stick
Potato and Chive Pancakes
Greasy Breakfast - make a little healthier

Grow and preserve your own food

Not got a garden.. no worries, these items you can grow in pots, you don't need to grow gallons of these items to add flavor to many dishes. They include quick tips on preserving your harvest.

Grow and Preserve Basil
Grow your own chilies

Coffee:

All about roasting coffee and the benefits of Fair Trade.

Roasting your own Coffee
Fair Trade Coffee

Vegetarianism:

Scary things hidden in Foods – a Guide for vegetarians and anybody who curious

Pets

Having a number of 4 legged friends wandering around my house, following are a few tips I have learned over the years.

Dog food Recipe for when your dog has a bad stomach
Cat Furballs
Adopting a rescue dog
Exercising your dogs brain by exercising its nose
Ultimate recycling - a shedding problem resolved
Fat Dog - Bad Human
My brothers Fat Cat B'stard
Always be kind to Animals
Hummingbirds, tips, food recipe
Feeding 2 cats, 2 different diets, without a cat fight

Miscellanies and Some Slightly silly:

These were hard to categorize. For the most part they are slightly silly and were fun to write.

Is your house haunted?
Boiled Egg Personallity Test
Governmentium
Heaven, Hell, Chefs, Police, Mechanics and Lovers
Middle Aged or old Fart?
Basic Drawing Tips
The Differences Between Dogs and People
Things I like and Things I hate

Writing:

An idea for when you have lost your muse!

Help me I don't know what to write today

Travel:
Dog friendly camp sites

Beauty and lifestyle and shopping:

I am not the biggest shopper in the world, so don't expect this list to grow too rapidly!

Hair Removal
Buying a Juicer?
Wine Aerators
What type of glasses suit your face?

Book Reviews
Cecelia Ahern: The Gift
Marian Keyes: Rachel's Holiday
Cecelia Ahern: Where Rainbows End

Science and the World:

The Moon on the Horizon
Astronaut Tool Bag dropped
Things falling from the sky
Darwin
Italy and Sicily to Join!
The controversial topic of medical marijuana

© helenkw

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